For most conspicuous bravery, skilful leading and devotion to duty during the attack of the Guards Division on 27th September, 1918, across the Canal Du Nord, near Flesquieres, when in command of the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, the leading battalion of the 3rd Guards Brigade. Under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire he led his battalion with great skill and determination to the " forming-up " ground, where very severe fire from artillery and machine guns was again encountered. Although wounded, he quickly grasped the situation, directed a platoon to proceed down a sunken road to make a flanking attack, and, under terrific fire, went across open ground to obtain the assistance of a Tank, which he personally led and directed to the best possible advantage. While thus fearlessly exposing himself, he was again severely wounded by a shell. Notwithstanding considerable loss of blood, after lying on a stretcher for awhile, lie insisted on getting up and personally directing the further attack. By his magnificent example of devotion to duty and utter disregard of personal safety all ranks were inspired to exert themselves to the utmost, and the attack resulted in the capture of over 200 prisoners, two batteries of field guns and numerous machine guns. Lt.-Col. Viscount Gort then proceeded to organise the defence of the captured position until he collapsed; even then he refused to leave the field until he had seen the " success signal" go up on the final objective. The successful advance of the battalion was mainly due to the valour, devotion and leadership of this very gallant officer. LG 26/11/1918

For most conspicuous bravery when in charge of a Lewis gun section covering the consolidation of the right front company. He accounted for several enemy with his rifle as well as by Lewis gun fire, and, upon seeing three enemy leave a "pill-box," he went out single-handed through our own barrage and hostile machine-gun fire, and effected an entry into the " pill-box." He there captured nine enemy, including a forward observation officer connected by telephone with his battery. These prisoner he brought back with him, together with valuable information. 9 October 1917 near Houthulst Forest, east of Ypres, Belgium LG 26/11/1917

Pryce

Lt. (A./Capt.) Thomas Tannatt Pryce, M.C., 4th G. Gds. For most conspicuous bravery, devotion to duty, and self-sacrifice when in command of a flank on the left of the Grenadier Guards. Having been ordered to attack a village, he personally led forward two platoons, working from house to house, killing some thirty of the enemy, seven of whom he killed himself. The next day he was occupying a position with some thirty to forty men, the remainder of his company having become casualties. As early as 8.15 a.m. his left flank was surrounded and the enemy was enfilading him. He was attacked no less than four times during the day, and each time beat off the hostile attack, killing many of the enemy. Meanwhile, the enemy brought up three field guns to within 300 yards of his line, and were firing over open sights and knocking his trench in. At 6.15 p.m. the enemy had worked to within sixty yards of his trench. He then called on his men, telling them to cheer and charge the enemy and fight to the last. Led by Captain Pryce, they left their trench and drove back the enemy, with the bayonet, some 100 yards. Half an hour later the enemy had again approached in stronger force. By this time Captain Pryce had only 17 men left, and every round of his ammunition had been fired. Determined that there should be no surrender, he once again led his men forward in a bayonet charge, and was last seen engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand struggle with overwhelming numbers of the enemy. With some forty men he had held back at least one enemy battalion for over ten hours. His company undoubtedly stopped the advance through the British line, and thus had great influence on the battle. 11 April 1918 at Vieux Berquin, France LG 22/5/1918

For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice. When a unit on his left was driven back, thus leaving his flank in the air and his company practically surrounded, he fearlessly exposed himself to re-adjust the line, walking up and down within fifty yards of the enemy under a withering fire. He personally removed several wounded men, and was the last to leave the village. Later, he again re-adjusted the line, exposing himself regardless of all danger the whole time, and when the enemy four times counterattacked he sprang each time upon the parapet, deliberately risking his life, and being eventually mortally wounded, in order to stimulate his command. After the enemy had broken through on his left, he again mounted the parapet, and with a few men—who were inspired by his great example—forced them once more to withdraw, thereby undoubtedly saving the left flank. 1st Dec 1917 at Gonnelieu, France, LG 13/2/1918

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Cattenieres on the 9th October, 1918. Pte. Holmes carried in two men under the most intense fire, and, while he was attending to a third case, he was severely wounded. In spite of this, he continued to carry wounded, and was shortly afterwards again wounded, with fatal results. By his self-sacrifice and disregard of danger he was the means of saving the lives of several of his comrades. LG 26/12/1918

Barber

No. 15518 Private1 Edward Barber, 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards.

For most conspicuous bravery on 12th March, 1915, at Neuve Chapelle. He ran speedily in front of the grenade company to which he belonged and threw bombs on the enemy with such effect that a very great number of them at once surrendered. When the grenade party reached Private Barber they found him quite alone and, unsupported with the enemy surrendering all about him. LG 16/8/1915

For most conspicuous bravery at Neuve Chapelle on 12th March, 1915. Seeing a party of the enemy endeavouring to escape along a communication trench, he ran towards them and killed the leading man with a bomb; the remainder (nearly 50) finding no means of evading his bombs, surrendered to him. Lance-Corporal Fuller was quite alone at the time. LG 16/8/1915

Offered to dislodge a party of Russians from the Sand-bag Battery, if any one would follow him; Serjeant Norman, Privates Anthony Palmer, and Bailey (who was killed) volunteered the first. The attack succeeded. LG 24/2/1857

Palmer

No. 3571 Private Anthony Palmer 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards

"Present when the charge was made in defence of the Colours, and also charged singly upon the enemy, as witnessed by Sir C. Russell is said to have saved Sir C, Russell's life" 5th Nov 1854 Battle of Inkerman LG 24/2/1857 (Private Palmer, with two other men were the first to volunteer to go with Brevet Major Sir Charles Russell to dislodge a party of Russians from the Sandbag Battery. The attack succeeded. During this action Private Palmer shot down an assailant who was in the act of bayoneting Russell, and so saved his life. He was also one of a small band which, by a desperate charge against overwhelming numbers, saved the Colours of the battalion from capture. ) see: Russell

Ablett

No. 5872 Serjeant Alfred Ablett 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards

On the 2nd September, 1855, seeing a shell fall in the centre of a number of Ammunition cases and Powder, he instantly seized and threw it outside the trench; it burst as it touched the ground. LG 24/2/1857. VC sold in London 20/3/1903 for £62

At a moment when the Guards were at some distance from the Sand Bag Battery, at the Battle of Inkerman, Colonel Percy charged singly into the battery, followed immediately by the Guards; the embrasures of the battery, as also the parapet, were held by the Russians, who kept up a most severe fire of musketry. At the Battle of Inkerman Colonel Percy, found himself with many men of various regiments, who had charged too far, nearly surrounded by the Russians, and without ammunition. Colonel Percy, by his knowledge of ground, though wounded, extricated these men, and, passing under a heavy fire from the Russians then in the Sand Bag Battery, brought them safe to where ammunition was to be obtained, thereby saving some fifty men, and enabling them to renew the combat. He received the approval of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, for this action, on the spot.—Colonel Percy was engaged with, and put hors de combat, a Russian soldier. LG 5/5/1857

died Extracted from : "Soldiers / Officers Died in the Great War" (consider approximate - in addition the regiment as a whole lost an additional 84 officers who are recorded with 'battalion not shown' or with battalions not shown here, or who we have not yet allocated a battalion.)

The Origin and History of the First or Grenadier Guards. From Documents in the State Paper Office, War Office, Horse Guards, contemporary history, regimental records, etc. 3 vols

London: John Murray, 1874

Capt. F. Martin

History of the Grenadier Guards, 1656-1949. 66 pp.

Aldershot: Gale & Polden Ltd. 1951

Lieut.-Col. the Right Hon. Sir Frederick Ponsonby, with an Introduction by Lieut.-Gen. The Earl of Cavan.

The Grenadier Guards in the Great War of 1914-1918. 3 vols.

London : Macmillan & Co. Ltd., 1920.

By Capt. Nigel Nicolson and Patrick Forbes.

The Grenadier Guards in the War of 1939-1945. 2 vols. - Vol. I. The Campaigns in North-West Europe; by Patrick Forbes. Vol. 2, The Mediterranean Campaigns; by Capt. N. Nicolson.

Aldershot : Gale & Polden Ltd., 1949.

??

The Grenadier Guards, 1939-1945. 79 pp.

Aldershot: Gale & Polden Ltd. [1946]

By Pte. J. Hart

Incidents of the South African Campaign, being chiefly the Personal Experiences of the Author. 151 pp.

The Telegraph Press, St. John, New Brunswick, 1901.

Brig.-Gen. F. Lloyd. & Brevet-Major Hon. A. Russell

First or Grenadier Guards in South Africa, 1899-1902. Records of the Second Battalion; compiled by Brig.-Gen. F. Lloyd.—Records of the Third Battalion; compiled by Brevet-Major Hon. A. Russell. 114 and 138 pp.

London: J. Keliher & Co. Ltd., 1907.

By Maj.-Gen. R. H. Whitworth.

The Grenadier Guards (The First or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards). Famous Regiments Series. 120 pp.

London: Leo Cooper 1974

General "Foot Guards" Titles:

E. P. Lowry

With the Guards Brigade from Bloemfontein to Koomati Poort and back.

London; Horace Marshall, 1952.

Julian Paget.

The Story of the Guards. 304 pp.

London: Osprey, 1976

John De St Jorre

The Guards. 255 pp.

London: Aurum Press, 1981

By Major H. L. Aubrey-Fletcher

A History of the Foot Guards to 1856. 463 pp.

London: Constable & Co. Ltd., 1927

??

The Official Records of the Guards Brigade in South Africa. 344 pp.

London: J. J. Keliher & Co. Ltd., 1904

Patrick Forbes

6th Guards Tank Brigade. The Story of the Guardsmen in Churchill Tanks. 244 pp.